The new version update and video release dropped exactly at 6:30 PM, right when most people are clocking out.
As expected, the Version 3.0 announcement caused an immediate spike in discussion across forums and chat groups, and website traffic went through the roof.
"Great news! Warhammer Online is getting a massive facelift; Version 3.0 is live!"
"The bad news? Reservation numbers just blew past ten million."
"When are they going to open up the tenth batch of beta slots?!"
"Another update? I haven't even gotten a beta test spot yet, man!"
"My heart is broken. I signed up ages ago! Why haven't they opened up the tenth batch of slots yet?"
"So many updates, and I've missed them all, sob sob. I'm so bummed out."
"Does anyone know the actual address of the company that developed Warhammer Online?"
"It's written on the official website, dude."
"The official website address is just a smokescreen. It says Holy Terra. Do you seriously think Big E wrote the code himself?"
"It's hard to say. After ten thousand years of being paralyzed, he's got time to kill. Writing game code is a decent way to pass the eternity."
"Breaking news: all the companies that went to GW headquarters to talk about copyright and game distribution have struck out and returned empty-handed."
"Don't even try. I bet the GW team is having a blast on vacation in Bali and doesn't want to leave the beach!"
"I'm thinking of selling my phone—all I need is one beta test spot. Please, guys, I'm losing my mind over here. Hook me up with a spot!"
"Hey, why did the University of Tokyo Research Institute suddenly announce a breakthrough in nuclear fusion? They expect it to be commercialized within five to ten years."
"Maybe that 'double helix' shape the guy was dreaming about was inspiration he got from playing the game!"
"Haha, the person above is really cracking jokes."
"But seriously, let's talk about the game. This update is pretty great. They even added a healing 'Fountain' function to the Lighthouse. Looks like our status as E-Daemons is about to be locked in."
"Wasn't that already confirmed?"
"Daemons can be resurrected, and so can players. Daemons resist corruption from other Daemons, and players resist corruption from other Chaos Gods. Tell me, aren't Daemons just modeled after players?"
...
While the forums were buzzing about the new version, players in the game were giving the update the once-over in the regional chat channel.
GuillimanRules: "I think this update is super meaningful. Besides the dungeons, adding Lighthouse healing and the ability to dispel negative status effects is huge."
Warmaster: "Old Thirteen said a whole lot of nothing, to be honest (joking)."
Yuji: "When Eugene thinks, the Warp laughs."
GuillimanRules: "You bunch of absolute jokers..."
"Guilliman Rules" violated the channel's speaking rules and has been banned for 1 hour.
Little Alpaca: "Stop picking on the Thirteenth Prince! He's an Ogryn now, and you're still giving him grief."
Batman: "Don't sweat it, Thirteen. I'll take you to Arkham later."
Daigo: "The Thirteenth Brother sent me to pass on a message: 'If you've got the guts, meet me in the arena. We'll settle who's top dog once and for all.'"
...
The chat channel went silent for a beat.
Warmaster: "Let's stick to the game, guys. Let me take a stab and see how well the Lighthouse recovery works."
Engaging in a close-quarters duel with an Ogryn is something only a lunatic would try.
An enraged Ogryn can smash a Space Marine in Terminator armor so hard he's stuck to the wall like cheap wallpaper.
Warmaster: "@One Night Output Slaanesh Ten Times, come on and poke me once! Let's see what happens!"
Yuji: "I'll do the honors. I'll go easy on the godfather."
Little Alpaca: "You bunch of weirdos."
Caesar: "As the leader of our Emperor's Bull and Horse Battle Group, you're not chickening out, are you?"
Mount & Blade: "Yeah, boss, give it a shot. As our leader, you can't let us down!"
Warmaster: "Oh, come on, you guys are running this con again, aren't you? No way. Even if I lose the guild leader title, I'm not being your guinea pig."
Yuji: "How about I suck it up, take a sword strike, and take the fall?"
Caesar: "If you can't do it, I'll take the job. I'm more willing to take one for the team."
Warmaster: "..."
...
The players wasted no time in testing the updated features.
In the arena, Warmaster, dressed only in a long robe, faced the many members of the Imperial Bull and Horse War Legion.
"It's a deal. If I agree to this experiment, you can't vote me out of the leadership again."
"You bet your bottom dollar!" Yuji shouted, pounding his chest.
The other players nodded in unison.
"Alright, let's do this." Warmaster yelled.
"Here we go."
Yuji picked up a sword and plunged it right through the Warmaster's body.
Titus, Beren, and the other Deathwatch members were absolutely flabbergasted by this operation. What the heck?! Had these Saints completely lost their marbles? Stabbing your own guy?
Casarius and the Aeldari watched the spectacle, eyes wide. We thought these Saints acted like perverts seeing a married woman when they saw a Daemon, which was already gross enough. Now, it seems they can pull even more outrageous stunts!
The stabbed Warmaster was quickly loaded onto a medical stretcher. A moment later, a hazy glow appeared over the wound, causing it to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Whoa, that's sick!"
"It's a collective effect—this Lighthouse is like a fountain of life!"
"Such a healing effect, the healer is totally overpowered!"
"I love it! I absolutely love it!"
Lying on the stretcher, Warmaster watched his wounds vanish completely in no time. He jumped up excitedly, ready to bust out a celebratory dance.
But he quickly noticed his Contribution Points had dipped by three thousand.
"Holy cow! A tiny wound costs three thousand Contribution Points?! This is highway robbery!"
Yuji: "They're charging us again? But hey, cornering the market is sweet; it's practically printing money."
Caesar: "The official team saw right through you cheapskates. If it weren't for the Contribution Points, you'd drag your mangled bodies back from the other side of the galaxy just to mooch off the system."
Mount & Blade: "That's harsh. What do you mean by 'mooching'? We call this optimizing resource allocation."
...
Unlike the Emperor's Hammers, known for its unconventional and chaotic nature, the newly formed Minecraft Dynasty runs like a tight ship.
Players from the Minecraft Legends and Minecraft communities took advantage of the post-war looting opportunity to enter Hurt Prime in the Rath Forge World.
This was the site of the Omega Sanctuary of the Covenant of Rath, a massive structure that once housed the Mechanicum's governing council for the entire Calixis Sector. Beneath the sanctuary were stored various advanced technological creations and knowledge that Rath Forges had collected over the years from regions like the Calixis Sector and the Colonus Expansion Zone.
Members of the MC Dynasty used the pretext of suppressing rebels to gain access to this treasure trove of knowledge. They inserted a pre-prepared storage drive into the database interface and began downloading the Rath Forge World's cutting-edge technological blueprints.
"'Mind Controllers' can emit specific brainwaves to trick and manipulate neural activity, achieving total command and control. They can be used on beasts and intelligent species." MC Legend read through the tech archives.
Mind Controllers were rampant during the Golden Age of Technology. Many ambitious individuals used them to control massive slave populations, stabilizing their rule. The Imperium considered this forbidden technology and barred the Mechanicum from openly researching or utilizing it.
"This thing is a godsend! If we take it to Catachan to tame those wild beasts, we could field a giant army of rampaging, killer animals!"
"I could give it to the Zerg to use. Then, I would be the Zerg! Heh heh, just thinking about it is awesome."
"'Dust of Nothingness' can make anything it covers almost invisible in low-light conditions, difficult to detect even with technology. That is wonderful! The Night Lords and all those infiltration-loving Astartes would buy this up in droves."
"The 'Cameril Camouflage Netting' can instantly change color to match its surroundings, achieving a perfect cloaking effect. Sweet! If we could develop stealth power armor, we'd be making a killing."
...
Looking at the densely packed descriptions of cutting-edge technology, the angle of MC Legend's grin was getting wider and wider; he was practically beaming like a Cheshire Cat.
This operation was a colossal success!
The ancients were right: you gotta strike while the iron's hot. These cutting-edge technologies were enough for the MC Dynasty to launch a ton of new products and dominate the heavy industry scene.
"Isn't this a little shady? It feels like we're thieves," MC Silver whispered.
"How can you say 'stealing' when players are involved? That sounds awful," MC Legend scoffed, looking at his disappointing teammate.
"We are simply learning from the advanced technology and knowledge of our allies to contribute to the rise of Humanity! Now hustle, grab all the good stuff; the construction of this mega-structure depends entirely on these blueprints."
...
A chaotic vortex.
Thanks to the quick thinking of The BaldCustodian and his men, the pilgrimage expedition fleet managed to escape Magnus's carefully laid trap.
But the crisis was far from over; Magnus's conspiracy was intricate and deeply malicious.
The pilgrimage fleet was swept by the Warp storm he conjured into a vortex already infested with servants of Chaos. Traitor ships kept launching attacks.
However, the pilgrimage fleet maintained strong firepower and fiercely retaliated against any invader. They failed to make a dent; instead, they all became fodder for the pilgrimage group's swords.
With the help of the powerful Psyker Voodus, the pilgrimage team finally caught sight of the Star Torch's brilliance again after a grueling journey. They began their arduous path, attempting to escape the whirlpool.
Seeing this, Magnus initiated the next phase of his plan, determined to keep Guilliman bottled up in the vortex.
Huron Blackheart, leader of the Red Corsairs, blocked the pilgrimage fleet's path with a massive fleet and a captured Blackstone Fortress.
"My father, it's a crying shame you won't be able to visit Maelstrom."
Huron linked up with the Macragge's Honor communications and sent a mocking greeting to Guilliman.
Huron Blackheart, formerly known as Lufgt Huron, was the former Chapter Master of the Astral Claws and is the current leader of the Red Corsairs, as well as the Arch-Lord of the Maelstrom.
The Astral Claws were a successor Chapter of the Ultramarines, founded in the M35 era. After the death of the previous Chapter Master, Rovik Blake, Huron, the 3rd Company Captain, took over the Chapter. His abilities were undeniable; he not only defeated the invading greenskin Orks but also suppressed the chaotic forces of the Maelstrom, bringing a rare period of peace to the surrounding area.
Disillusioned by the incompetence of the Imperial bureaucracy, he championed the Great Crusade spirit and transformed the Badab Sector he was stationed in into a prosperous private domain.
Because he refused to pay Imperial tithes, illegally expanded the size of his Chapter, and turned the Badab Sector into his own personal territory, the tribunal members who came to investigate eventually branded Huron's actions as high treason against the Imperium.
The Imperium mobilized Chapters like the Red Scorpions, Salamanders, Minotaurs, Exorcists, Flesh Tearers, and Sons of Medusa to wage an 11-year war against the rebel forces led by the Astral Claws.
Huron ultimately failed, fleeing into the Great Maelstrom where he formed the Red Corsairs, making them, within a century, the second most powerful Chaos force after the Black Legion.
Guilliman was filled with unspeakable fury. "Traitor, don't you dare call me father."
Huron was completely unfazed by the Primarch's anger and continued speaking.
"How can we possibly save Humanity by staying aligned with those pencil-pushing insects?"
"They will only screw everything up and label anyone who tries to improve the situation a traitor."
"Join us, only then..."
"Cut the nonsense," Guilliman interrupted the Blackheart King. "You and my traitorous brother have made a pact, haven't you? Tell that fool he hid in the Eye of Terror ten thousand years ago. This time, I won't give him another chance to run away."
"My brother, you're the one who should be running."
Magnus's arrogant voice boomed.
The magnificent Tizca's Revenge materialized out of nowhere onto the battlefield, accompanied by a massive fleet numbering in the thousands.
The Red Corsairs plus the Thousand Sons.
The combined fleet strength far exceeded that of the pilgrimage expedition.
"This time, you've got nowhere to go." Magnus was supremely confident.
His plan was flawless. Guilliman would be completely checkmated, with no chance of turning the tables.
Kairos, standing beside Magnus, admired the perfect strategy.
"Well, isn't this a lively party? Looks like I made it just in time."
A sickeningly sweet voice echoed. It rang in the minds of Magnus, Kairos, and Huron Blackheart.
A magnificent fleet appeared on the battlefield: it was the Vargrym, coming to avenge Guilliman.
Magnus and Kairos looked grim. They realized that if they wanted to capture Guilliman, they might have to throw down with the Primarch who serves the Prince of Pleasure, again.
The Imperium's side, meanwhile, plunged into despair. The enemy had more ships, and two traitor Primarchs had them backed into a corner!
Guilliman's heart sank. He had no chance of winning. Looks like this is really where I bite the dust, he thought dejectedly.
The players standing next to Guilliman were, naturally, discussing the plot.
"Looks like the Guide is about to make his grand entrance," The BaldCustodian, who had long since resurrected, analyzed seriously.
"Why?" Pighead asked, confused.
"You've been playing this long and haven't figured it out? The Guide is the official's favorite pet. He shows up in every major storyline, guaranteed." The BaldCustodian explained.
Krieg nodded, then posed another question.
"Don't you guys think the plot is off the rails? Shouldn't the original story be that Guilliman gets kidnapped, then Skarbrand indirectly turns loyal, and then Lord Cypher and the Harlequins help him escape and make a pilgrimage to Terra?"
Dou patted Krieg's helmet and clarified.
"Are you nuts? This game claims to be 100% realistic. With us running around, how is it supposed to stick to the original script exactly?"
"Do you think you're playing one of those old-school online games where you fight an epic story mission only to find out nothing actually changed? The quests and NPCs are all one-and-done events, and the storyline will definitely change based on our actions. Why else would the official team keep hammering home that we can't kill NPCs indiscriminately?"
Krieg scratched his head. "If that's the case, what if we somehow rigged up an Aether Engine right now and blew up the Warp? Would that be the end of the story?"
"Theoretically, yeah, that's how it works," The BaldCustodian replied. "Maybe the full public beta would start right after the explosion."
Magnus rose, and though he didn't speak with his voice, his thoughts reached everyone's minds. "Surrender, Guilliman. Give up now, and you'll keep some dignity. But if you surrender to that madman Fulgrim, I don't even want to think about what he'll do to you."
"Magnus, how dare you badmouth your brother like that? Have you lost all sense of family?" Fulgrim let out a strange, sickly sweet laugh.
"Unfortunately, Guilliman won't surrender; he's quite adorable when he's angry. He'll declare war on both of us in our Father's name, and of course, this time, his descendants won't be able to save his butt."
Guilliman's fury boiled hotter. The fact that the other Primarchs were humiliating him right in front of his flagship was tantamount to treating him like a captured pawn.
"Magnus..." Guilliman was about to declare war, when a terrifying roar followed—a voice filled with eternal rage and a thirst for carnage.
"Guilliman, I'm here."
An unimaginable Khorne fleet materialized. Every warship hull was bristling with menacing rams and dense clusters of skulls.
Meanwhile, a blood-red comet hurtled ahead at an incredible speed. It was a destructive star wreathed in raging flames and sporting demonic wings.
The Crimson Angel, the King of the Red Sands, the Lord of the Twelve Legions—Angron, the Primarch of the World Eaters, had descended.
Magnus's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
All three Primarchs had shown up for Guilliman, and no matter who he fell to, he had zero chance of making it back to Terra.
But Magnus's smile quickly vanished, because Angron's flight path cut directly across his flagship, the Tizca's Revenge.
The Khornate Primarch showed no intention of slowing down.
BOOM!
Angron's massive, demon-infused body crashed into and pierced straight through Tizca's Revenge.
Magnus: "..."
"Darn it, Angron, I'm gonna deck you!"
The crisis didn't stop there. The Khorne fleet, following close behind Angron, opened fire on the Thousand Sons fleet, roaring slogans of blood sacrifice to the Blood God and skull offerings to the Skull Throne.
The Blood God doesn't care who the enemy is—He only cares about the bloodshed. Whether it's Guilliman's, the Thousand Sons', or the Prince of Pleasure's, He doesn't care, as long as enough blood is spilled.